Recorded on August 23, 2018 at the Chemung County Historical Society.
Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is known for its biting skepticism towards religion.
However, there is also a deeper and more complex religious undercurrent coursing through Twain's classic that is often overlooked or misunderstood by contemporary readers. Dwayne Eutsey will explore how the "conservative-progressive" theology of Twain's good friend and pastor, Joe Twichell, may have influenced these depths with visits to Elmira's historic Park Church and Cornell's Sage chapel in 1876 as Twain was beginning to write his masterpiece.
Dwayne Eustey is an independent scholar in Mark Twain studies and is writing a book that examines the significant influence of religious liberalism on Mark Twain's life and writing. Entitled "There Is No Humor in Heaven": Mark Twain and the Religious Liberalism that Shaped His Life, the book will contribute to the ongoing discussion among scholars and the public regarding Twain's complicated views on religion.